Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations, particularly focusing on VICI Properties Inc. (VICI), and suggests that while the average brokerage recommendation (ABR) indicates a strong buy, investors should be cautious and validate this information with other tools like the Zacks Rank [1][5][10]. Summary by Sections Brokerage Recommendations - VICI Properties has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.32, indicating a position between Strong Buy and Buy, based on recommendations from 22 brokerage firms [2]. - Out of the 22 recommendations, 18 are Strong Buy and 1 is Buy, which accounts for 81.8% and 4.6% of all recommendations respectively [2]. Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - Solely relying on brokerage recommendations may not be advisable, as studies show they often fail to guide investors effectively towards stocks with high price appreciation potential [5]. - Brokerage firms tend to exhibit a positive bias in their ratings due to vested interests, leading to a disproportionate number of favorable ratings compared to negative ones [6][10]. Zacks Rank as an Alternative - The Zacks Rank is presented as a more reliable tool for predicting stock price movements, categorizing stocks from Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell) based on earnings estimate revisions [8][11]. - The Zacks Rank is updated more frequently than the ABR, reflecting timely changes in earnings estimates, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [12]. Current Outlook for VICI Properties - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for VICI Properties has increased by 0.2% over the past month to $2.35, indicating growing optimism among analysts regarding the company's earnings prospects [13]. - The recent change in consensus estimates, along with other factors, has resulted in a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) for VICI Properties, suggesting that the Buy-equivalent ABR may be a useful guide for investors [14].
Should You Invest in VICI Properties (VICI) Based on Bullish Wall Street Views?